http://www.change.org/petitions/stop-the-internet-control-bill-now

Why This Is Important

The IP Act (S.968 – PROTECT IP Act of 2011) establishes a system for taking down websites that the Justice Department determines to be « dedicated to infringing activities. » The DoJ or the copyright owner would be able to commence a legal action against the alleged infringer and the DoJ would be allowed to demand that search engines, social networking sites and domain name services block access to the targeted site. In some cases, action could be taken to block sites without first allowing the alleged infringer to defend themselves in court. The PROTECT IP Act would allow copyright owners – movie studios and other content providers – simply to accuse a website of infringement, which could lead to that site being shut down by court order and entire links to the site being wiped clean from the Internet. The bill is so poorly written that it would allow any copyright owner to shut down a legitimate retail website, such as Amazon or Best Buy, by alleging that one product being sold on the site could “enable or facilitate” an infringement. It could even allow any content owner to block access to the Patent Office website if it receives and posts a patent application for a product that is believed to use content without permission. The PROTECT IP Act will hurt American innovation. This bill will give one side the power to put the other side out of business and this is dangerous beyond words.

comments :

How does this even pass as constitutional? It violates more than just presumption of innocence and the right to a trail (both of those are big themselves). Freedom of speech and the press, anyone? I can already smell the Wikileaks and music site take downs.
1st Amendment, Bill of Rights:

« Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances. »

So why am I petitioning? Hopefully, to save the Supreme Court from a frivolous case, although I imagine they would kill the law immediately. Worst case scenario: I’m defending the constitution, and trying to stop the U.S. from turning into China.